Investigation of Health Socialization Status in Iran: A Qualitative Study in 2020

Abstract

Background: There are significant differences in the health status of different social groups, despite governments' commitment to improving health indicators, which can be avoided by intervening appropriately. In this regard, it can be mentioned that the formation of the social deputy in the Ministry of Health of Iran in 2016, which was dissolved in 1998, and the socialization of health were ignored. Due to the ambiguity in the new process of socialization of health, this study aimed to investigate the status of health socialization in the current structure of the country.

Method: The present study as a qualitative study carried out through documentation analysis and two in-depth semi-structured interviews with social deputies of two medical universities of Iran. Data were analyzed using the contractual content analysis method. Two in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with the social deputies of the universities of Tehran and Ilam, who were selected using convenience sampling to complete the findings.

Result: According to the results of content analysis and 23 extracted codes, the socialization of health in Iran is debatable in two main areas, namely strategies and pillars of socializing health which consisted of three and five sub-themes, respectively. At present, the structure and pillars of socializing health and coordination among these pillars are vague and uncertain due to the distribution of responsibilities of the social deputy in other departments of the Ministry of Health and universities.

Conclusion: For achieving equity in the socialization of health goals, it is better to clarify the socialization of health stewardship, strategies, and policies in the whole country concerning social issues and dimensions of the health system.